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Be Authentic or GTFO!

Hey everybody, I'm Eric Oberembt. I want to thank you all for following and tuning into my new podcast, Be Authentic or GET THE F*CK OUT! If you know me, you know that I value keeping it real and leading with authenticity. That’s what this podcast is all about. 👊🏼 The only requirement to be a guest is that you are being authentic to who you are. If you're not, I'll shut It down and ask you to leave. "When you show up authentic, you create a space for others to do the same. Walk in your truth!"

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Be Authentic or GTFO!

Built to Lead: From Breakdown to Breakthrough

May 07, 2025 • Eric Oberembt • Season 6 • Episode 22

Jim Johnson built the kind of success most contractors chase… until it nearly broke him.

From uncovering fraud in his own company to watching his identity crumble under the weight of growth without purpose, Jim opens up about the brutal lessons that forced him to rebuild — not just his business, but his life. We dive into intentional leadership, the danger of skipping foundational work, and the personal cost of chasing scale without soul.

This episode doesn’t just talk shop — it gets real about legacy, relationships, recovery, and what it actually means to lead a life that matters.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep up while quietly falling apart, this conversation will hit different.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro & Jim’s Unfiltered Coaching Philosophy
02:00 - Why In-Person Conversations Still Matter
05:00 - From Scaling Big to Asking “What Actually Matters?”
09:00 - The Contractors Blueprint & Living with Intention
13:00 - Eric’s Coaching Journey & Ego Check Moments
17:00 - When Growth Without Foundation Backfires
21:30 - Creating a Business You Actually Want to Run
27:00 - How Fraud Rocked Jim’s Business & Team
32:00 - The TEAM Method: Trust, Empowerment, Accountability, Metrics
39:00 - Missed First Steps & Moments That Matter
42:00 - Tradeoffs: What Are You Not Willing to Sacrifice?
47:30 - Personal Growth, Recovery, and Realignment
51:00 - Peeling Back the Layers of Leadership
55:00 - The 7 Elements of a Prosperous Life
01:00:00 - Mental Strength, Time, Body & Community
01:07:00 - Faith, Finances & Intimacy with Self and Others
01:14:00 - Living in the Sweet Spot: Avoiding the Extremes
01:19:00 - Mentorship vs Coaching & Why Language Matters
01:22:00 - Substack, Content Without Noise, and Deep Work
01:25:00 - The pH Scale Analogy & Living in Balance
01:28:00 - Final Thoughts: Be Intentional With Your Life
01:29:00 - Outro & Links to Cult Culture and More

Listen to this episode on other podcast platforms:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/BeAuthenticSpotify
Google Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/BeAuthenticGooglePodcast
Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/BeAuthenticApplePodcast
Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/BeAuthenticAmazonMusic

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